ISTANBUL / Anadolu Agency

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed bilateral relations and opportunities for developing cooperation across various sectors, as well as regional and international developments, on Thursday.

This came during a meeting session held by Mohammed bin Salman with Carney at Peace Palace in Jeddah during the latter's visit to the Kingdom.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated via the US platform 'X' that the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister reviewed during the session 'aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries, areas of cooperation and opportunities for development across various sectors, and regional and international developments and efforts exerted regarding them.'

Carney, who took office as Prime Minister in March 2025, is the first Canadian prime minister to visit Saudi Arabia in 26 years since Jean Chrétien visited in 2000.

On May 24, 2023, Saudi Arabia and Canada announced the restoration of diplomatic relations to their previous level, after nearly five years of tension between the two countries.

The visit comes as Canada is making efforts to diversify its trade and attract investments, amid tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump and his threats regarding the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada, highlighting Ottawa's heavy reliance on Washington, its largest trading partner.

In contrast, Saudi Arabia seeks to attract more foreign investments as part of a plan led by the Crown Prince to diversify the Kingdom's economy and reduce its dependence on oil.

During the visit, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand, and they reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance joint cooperation to contribute to supporting mutual interests and opening broader horizons for partnership between the two countries.

They also discussed developments in the region and expressed their condemnation and denunciation of 'the Iranian violations that targeted tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and the heinous attacks that affected a number of countries in the region,' according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry statement.

Both sides stressed the need for de-escalation, a return to the negotiating path, and prioritizing dialogue to reach a comprehensive agreement that establishes peace and security at regional and international levels.

These talks come amid regional escalation following Iranian attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, which Tehran said came in response to US airstrikes on its territory, claiming they targeted US positions in Arab countries in the region.

The United States is launching strikes on Iran following the targeting of ships transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz for global energy supplies, while Iran insists on coordination with it before any ship crosses the strait and refuses passage through any route other than the one it has specified.

On June 18, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding and began negotiations to reach a final agreement with mediation by Qatar and Pakistan, but uncertainty surrounds the fate of the negotiations amid the current military confrontation.